Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. are celebrating the fact that it’s now been ten months since New Jersey implemented its brand new Ignition Interlock Law in the battle against drunk driving.
Partner Steven Benvenisti played a leading role, together with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), in campaigning to introduce the Ignition Interlock Law with a view of saving thousands of lives every year in the Garden State.
The Ignition Interlock Law is Saving Lives in New Jersey
The latest figures from across the country reveal that 29% of all fatal auto accidents involve one or more drivers being intoxicated with alcohol at the time. The figures for NJ are just above this average, with 33% of fatal accidents involving alcohol.
On December 1st, 2019, New Jersey became the 34th state to implement a law such as this. All convicted drunk drivers, including first-time offenders, are required to have an ignition interlock device installed.
When ignition interlock devices are placed in a vehicle, the driver is required to produce a sample of breath through this special device. If the driver is shown to be above the legal limit the car will not start.
Making New Jersey a Safer Place
Steven Benvenisti has been widely recognized as the driving force behind making this new law a reality. He took a personal interest in this law after he, himself, sustained major, permanent injuries as a result of a drunk driver earlier in his life.
Benvenisti came forward to testify in Trenton, NJ, in support of the law. Through his rigorous campaigning, along with MADD, lawmakers finally relented. Readers should contact Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. to find out more.
When speaking about the law, Benvenisti said, “I believe this law will make the roads of our state safer than ever before. Other states have seen a 52% decrease in the number of road fatalities involving alcohol, and I’m confident we will see a similar trend in New Jersey.”
Are Ignition Interlock Devices Working?
It’s too early to tell if these devices are having a positive impact. Road safety experts estimate it will take years to determine whether they have made the Garden State’s roads safer, particularly due to the disruption caused by coronavirus.
However, other states have seen dramatic falls in the number of road fatalities after implementing ignition interlock devices for convicted drunk drivers.
Experts say this is because many drunk drivers also have problems with alcohol. These devices prevent cars from working when drivers are intoxicated. This alone can prevent bad decisions from being made.
Saving Lives in New Jersey
All persons convicted of drunk driving are now required to have ignition interlock devices installed in their vehicles. These drivers are required to voluntarily install these devices in order to legally drive on the roads of New Jersey.
Benvenisti has expressed his pride at this law being enacted due to pressure from local communities across New Jersey.
His campaign is widely expected to save thousands of lives every single year. He is now calling on states where ignition interlock devices are not used to follow the example of the rest of the U.S. and make their roads safer.
